2021 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Firm, structured and pure with a cool and solid core of dark currants, blackberries, tar, pencil lead and bitter chocolate. Hints of tobacco, too. Firm but silky tannins. Very pure, with a long, mineral finish. Intense and very focused. 98% cabernet sauvignon and 2% merlot. (2022)

Lastly, the 2021 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou might be the wine of the vintage. It has more depth and density than just about every other wine out there, all while still bringing beautiful tannins and elegance. A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, harvested from September 21 to October 10th, it was vinified in wooden tronconique tanks and is still aging in new barrels. This beauty hit 12.5% natural alcohol, with a pH of 3.88 and an IPT that's just about off the charts. Deep black and blue fruits, graphite, spicy oak, tobacco, and chalky minerality all define the bouquet, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a concentrated, powerful mouthfeel, building yet fine tannins, and a great finish. Where most 2021s are going to offer plenty of up-front appeal, this is going to benefit from a solid 4-6 years of bottle age and be incredibly long lived. (2022)

The 2021 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, the highest-ever proportion of Cabernet, harvested from 21 September to 11 October. Deep garnet-purple colored, it features evocative notes of blackcurrant jelly, fresh plums, and black raspberries. Light-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid structure of firm, grainy tannins - beautifully ripe - with a lively backbone supporting the intense, tightly wound black fruits, leading to a long and earthy finish to this impressive wine. pH 3.88. 101 IPT. (2022)